Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-02-24
IN THE MIDDLE WEST.
n Story of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.
BY ALvA MILTON KERR.
tCoPYRIaHT, 1850, ny THE A. n. KELLOGG
NEWSPAPER CONPANYl
CHAPTER xvI.-corrrrrrn

CHATTER NNI-CoNTINuED
ITO please Joel Whitney," said the
old man, with an oath. He kceps
him on the bench through the innu-
ence of the ring, so that some one
smarter than Ashman can't go through
the judgeship to Congress, for Joel is
darkly working for that himself, teeth
and toc-nail guess you can see
about how the land lays, and about
the size of the sea Of suds you've got
to navigate before your ideal will have
fair sailing"
John Earling said nothing, but con-
tinucd TO walk up and down with his
brows KNIT and his nostrils set. The
old lawyer put on his hat and went
out, and, as he descended the stairs, he
clawed the air viciously, and said, with
sort OF nasai yawl: yah. there'll
be hair after all, bristles as big as cat
tailsr'
John Earling walked on into the
night with the future before him. He
was sending his heart ahead of him
with his hopes. desires and incIina-
tions feeling about in that great, dim
region, much as clear sca-watcr might
enter and feel about in some long.
shadowy, grim and rock-strewn cave.
Ever and anon he dropped his thoughts
into his bosom, and he felt, whatever
might come, whatever he might suffer
Of blight or poverty, or lit ,rness at
the hands Of fortune. he never could
be craven trickstoy TO win her smiles.
AL the tides Of his nature set the other
way. How could he bear to be kind
OF pensioner ON the injury OF others? A
sort Of almoner Ut the doorway Of mean
nessl No; IL his conception Of manhood
must be reversed. his ideals of purity
and honor be broken, he would aban-
don the line OF life he had chosen. He
and the ground could at least be honest
with each other; and he thought again
OF the plow Labor might. be brutal
izing. as somo fine souls had held. but
he doubted II IT could be as yitiating as
20 work in n cloud of strife ard evil. He
would go forward at any rate, and he
swore in his heart, there in the dark
ness, that II events should at last force
him the width of n hair from the line
4 honest conduct he had lain down,
30 would abandon his profession for
some simpler field Of action. He would
be honest, he would be Just and up-
right he would be man, in spite
OF the Vipers, vapors, snares, pitfall,
snd ayarice OF the time; and he went
put into the starlight with his fists
clincbed and walked away beyond the
limits OF the town, feeling his heated
hesrt beat steadily IN presence of the |
majesty and beauty of the clear cool !
night
Over him the heavens were open 10 |
n vast height and sown with God-quar- |
ried silver. about him the smell Of 1
flowers, and below him the Eiyer. d. /
Niding the meadows like a road Of |
rhosPhor. How paltry thing life had /
toemof an hour agol How evil thing /
almost when he had been close upon /
The hsrrying game man had made of
il Now, how diyincl How above 9th |
er earth-life the life of man seemed,
when he stood alone in presence Of the
smoothly moving universe with his ear
against The wonder-wombing heart of
silence!
Musing so. he heard at length the
court-hOuse clock boom family the
hour Of midnight, and he turnei back
and went homcNard across the fields
With his hair blown back from his brow
BY the sweet winds and his feet anlong
mo diamonds made BY the marriage OF
The moon and dew. As he came 10 the
edge OF The town be looked up quickly.
ns II some influence had suddenly
touched him, and saw that ne was be- n
lore the old attorneys house.
llH stopped moment and
looked mp at the chamber windows
aud wondered behind what lattice
Mann was sleeping; like some dark
poppy floating ON the deep of dreams.
Then he went Oh thinking how her
beautiful movement WAS portion OF !
The lovely and eternal motion OF the
worlds, much rs a sea-drop Is portion
pi the undulating ocean, when sudden ,
N be came face 10 face with tie still
uok-kceper who gave a frightened.
|earIui exclamation as their faces ,
Glanced ~ the moonlight and passed ,
INTO shadow.
John Earllng went onward turning Z
lycr ln his mind tho silent and curious :
lIo OF this blark-eycd man. What [
vas Tho mystery that clung about himP (
}hnt indehnable disease was it tbat s
cd upon hlmY Some secret cancer 7
re eileL perhaps, or s0mo gall-like D
that was lasting his i
'hqle life through, lie know THAI &
QPl'f tpok-kocpcg was respected. and y
~ aIono, What else Of praise. or D
lame, OF uondermenl WAS whispered
bout 10 had heard but little OF a